HIGH-PROFILE SPEAKERS FOR THE 3rd ANNUAL SOUTHERN AFRICAN METALS AND ENGINEERING INDABA
HIGH-PROFILE SPEAKERS FOR THE 3rd ANNUAL SOUTHERN AFRICAN METALS AND ENGINEERING INDABA
JOHANNESBURG, 23 July 2017 – Renowned and prominent speakers will address delegates attending the 3rd Annual Southern African Metals and Engineering Indaba in September.
The Indaba will be held at the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) Conference Centre in Sandton, from 14-15 September.
Now in its third year, the 2017 Indaba is an opportunity for business executives, captains of industry, policy makers, Government Ministers, academics, diplomats and labour leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the manufacturing, in general, and the steel and engineering sector, in particular.
This year’s conference, which will be held in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), takes place amid tough conditions in the sector which have resulted in, among others, lethargic growth, reduced exports, company closures/ liquidations and job losses. Efforts to rekindle growth in investment and employment in the sector require collaboration and cooperation between the Government, business and labour.
Highlights of the conference will include addresses by Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant, Minister of Small Businesses Lindiwe Zulu and Cosatu General Secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali. ANC National Executive Committee member and former Chairperson of the African Union (AU), Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, will deliver the closing remarks.
Other speakers will include Zimbabwean academic and political commentator Dr Ibbo Mandaza, businesswoman Dr Mamphela Ramphele, CEO of the of Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) Joel Netshitenzhe, CEO of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (merSETA) Dr Raymond Patel, Massmart Cchairman Kuseni Dlamini, Chief Commissioner of the International Trade and Administration Commission Siyabulela Tsengiwe and the CEO of the Manufacturing Circle, Phillipa Rodseth.
SEIFSA Chief Executive Officer Kaizer Nyatsumba said the 2017 Indaba would build on the resounding successes of the two previous conferences. Last year’s conference included speeches by former President Kgalema Motlanthe, former Business Unity South Africa CEO Khanyisile Kweyama and Department of Trade and Industry Deputy Director-General Garth Strachan.
“We hope that, as in previous years, delegates at this year’s conference will engage in vigorous debate on matters affecting the sector and the economy at large. The speakers are experts in their areas of focus. The sessions have been carefully structured to tackle the key challenges facing manufacturers,” Mr Nyatsumba said.
The 2017 Indaba will focus on the following topics, among others:
- Political Leadership in Southern Africa: Does it Advance or Hamper Economic Growth?
- Ensuring that Manufacturing in Southern Africa Is Internationally Competitive
- The Continental Free Trade Area: A Reality Before The End of 2017?
- Winning Together: Can Government, Business and Labour Conclude a Social Compact in the interest of Labour Stability and Foreign Investment
- The Automotive Production and Development Programme and the South African Metals and Engineering Sector
- Do Steel Import Tariffs Benefit or Hurt the South African Economy?
- South Africa’s Junk Credit Rating: What do we need to do to regain our sovereign credit investment rating?
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Issued by:
Siseko Njobeni
Communications Manager
Tel: (011) 298 9411 and 082 602 1725
Email: siseko@seifsa.co.za
Web: www.seifsa.co.za
Business and consumer spending is important to boost the economy, says SEIFSA
BUSINESS AND CONSUMER SPENDING IS IMPORTANT TO BOOST THE ECONOMY, SAYS SEIFSA
Johannesburg, 19 July 2017 – South Africa’s ailing economy desperately needs an increase in business and consumer expenditure if it is to stabilize, Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) Junior Economist Roberta Noise said today.
Commenting on the June 2017 Consumer Price Index (CPI) data released by Statistics South Africa, which declined to 5.1% from 5.4% in May 2017 on an annual basis, Ms Noise said the ongoing easing of the CPI was a positive development since the index continued, for the third consecutive month since 2015, to be within the 3-6% band-width set by the South African Reserve Bank. However, she cautioned that a decrease in inflation is a sign of a decrease in economic growth, which is fuelled by spending.
“The decline in the CPI is as a direct result of the low consumer confidence environment currently at play, which is indicative of lower spending patterns. The Consumer Confidence Index, as published by FNB/BER, has contracted for the second consecutive quarter at -9 index points and has been at its lowest streak since the inception of the index.
“Contributions to the annual decline are seen in discretionary goods like restaurants, hotels, as well as clothing and footwear both contributing a negative 0.1 percentage points,” Ms Noise said.
She said the 0.2 % monthly increase was mainly driven by housing and utilities, which encompass the rental and basic utility-type goods. This confirms that the decline in prices is related to the decline in spending, she said.
“The current expenditure occurring is for more necessity-type goods, with a host of multinational retail stores announcing their departure by the end of the calendar year as a result of the low consumer spending appetite. Confidence in both the consumer and business spending environment needs to be restored,” Ms Noise said.
End
Issued by:
Siseko Njobeni
Communications Manager
Tel: (011) 298 9411 and 082 602 1725
Email: siseko@seifsa.co.za
Web: www.seifsa.co.za
SEIFSA MAKES TWO TOP APPOINTMENTS IN ITS ECONOMICS DIVISION
SEIFSA MAKES TWO TOP APPOINTMENTS IN ITS ECONOMICS DIVISION
JOHANNEBURG, 17 July 2017 – The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Michael Ade as Chief Economist and Ms Marique-Mari Kruger as Economist (pictures attached) with effect from 17 July 2017 and 1 August 2017, respectively.
Dr Ade holds a B.Com from the University of Buea in Cameroon, a B.Com Honours in General and Financial Economics and an M.Com in Economic Development and Policy Issues from the University of Johannesburg, as well as a Ph.D in Public Economics (Taxation) and International Economics from the University of the Witwatersrand. He also holds certificates in International Trade and Commodity Finance, Export Management and Econometric Analysis of Panel Data.
Dr Ade will join SEIFSA from the South African Revenue Service where he is the Director: Capacity Development, Programmes and Research. He has previously worked as Chief Economist at Productivity South Africa, Transitional and Technical Manager at ABSA Bank and Group Accountant at Afrikings, the marketing wing of Vodacom.
Ms Kruger holds a B.Com in Economics and Econometrics and a B.Com Honours in International Trade and Finance, both from the University of Johannesburg. She has just completed her M.Com in Economics from the University of Johannesburg.
Ms Kruger has worked as Transfers Administrator at ABSA Investment Management Services, Reports Coordinator at Collective Dynamics, Economic Research Assistant at the University of Johannesburg, Economist at Statistics South Africa and Junior Commodity Economist at Economic Trends South Africa.
SEIFSA Chief Executive Officer Kaizer Nyatsumba said these high-calibre appointments indicated the Federation’s intention to ensure that it continued to be an unequalled repository of information on the economics of the metals and engineering sector.
“I am delighted that Dr Ade and Ms Kruger are joining SEIFSA. They bring an extensive wealth of experience, expertise and knowledge that is necessary to provide economic analysis of issues affecting the steel and engineering sector.
“I am certain that they will be a strong addition to the team of experts working for SEIFSA in the best interests of our member Associations and companies,” Mr Nyatsumba said.
End
Issued by:
Siseko Njobeni
Communications Manager
Tel: (011) 298 9411 and 082 602 1725
Email: siseko@seifsa.co.za
Web: www.seifsa.co.za
The South African economy is struggling to support manufacturing
The South African economy is struggling to support manufacturing, says SEIFSA
JOHANNESBURG, 3 JULY 2017 – The decline in the June 2017 ABSA Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is a confirmation that the fundamentals of the South African economy are too weak to support the manufacturing sector, according to the the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA).
The PMI dropped to 46.7 index points in June 2017, down from 51.5 index points recorded in May 2017. On the whole, at the present level (below 50 index points) the index is indicative of contraction in the manufacturing sector.
“Following the sharp decline of the index in April 2017 to 44.7 index points, on the back of the unfortunate political events and the downgrades, we had welcomed the rebound in the May 2017 reading to 51.5 index points as a normalization of the trend, following a relative degree of overreaction to the heightened political noise and developments of April 2017,” SEIFSA Senior Economist, Tafadzwa Chibanguza said today.
Mr Chibanguza said, in addition to the weak economy, the manufacturing sector had experienced a gradual and painfully slow erosion of confidence and production capacity.
He said business activity, new sales orders, employment, inventories and, purchasing commitments decreased to below 50 index points. This was indicative of deterioration in an already negative environment, he said.
“At a deeper glance, this weakness is a function of a weak economy. This was also very evident in SEIFSA’s first quarter review of the metals and engineering sector, wherein those sub-industries with lower export-to-output ratios and more reliant on the domestic economy for orders, performed the worst and, in fact, contracted in all instances.
“Unfortunately, the stronger rand in June 2017 would not have contributed any upside to export prospects, hence the broad deterioration in the PMI indices. Manufacturers would have faced headwinds both at home from a slowing economy which is in a technical recession and outside of its boarders because of a stronger rand,” Mr Chibanguza said.
End
Issued by:
Siseko Njobeni
Communications Manager
Tel: (011) 298 9411 and 082 602 1725
Email: siseko@seifsa.co.za
Web: www.seifsa.co.za
Seifsa represents small and big companies, and seeks a win-win dispensation with labour
SEIFSA REPRESENTS SMALL AND BIG COMPANIES, AND SEEKS A WIN-WIN DISPENSATION WITH LABOUR
JOHANNESBURG, 12 JULY 2017 – Contrary to propaganda maliciously spread by another employer organisation, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) represents both small and big companies in its sector and fights hard to represent their interests, SEIFSA CEO Kaizer Nyatsumba said today.
Responding to a statement issued by NEASA today, Mr Nyatsumba said he found it bitterly disappointing that, following the deadlock in the 2017 wage negotiations in the metals and engineering sector, increasingly NEASA CEO Gerhard Papenfus was “viciously lashing out at everybody and everything, with SEIFSA particularly singled out for his worst propaganda campaign”.
Mr Nyatsumba said that Mr Papenfus appeared to be growing increasingly desperate and, in the process, sought to portray SEIFSA as an organisation that represented big employers in the sector and concluded deals only suitable to them.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. We represent both small and big employers. In fact, the overwhelming majority of our member companies employ no more than 50 people. Therefore, in our approach to negotiations with labour, we always strive to reach a deal that is acceptable to all our members, both small and big,” Mr Nyatsumba said.
He also took exception to Mr Papenfus’s attempts to characterize historic wage settlements in the Metals and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council as having been agreements between SEIFSA and one union, NUMSA.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. SEIFSA, which represents 25 independent employer Associations, has always negotiated and concluded agreements with all the trade unions in this sector, including Solidarty. Although there are currently five unions within the MEIBC, all six trade unions were signatories to the 2014 settlement agreement,” he said.
Mr Nyatsumba stressed that SEIFSA operated strictly in accordance with a mandate from its member Associations which, in turn, get mandated by their members and keep them informed during the negotiations process. The Federation also regularly writes directly to member companies to keep them apprised of developments.
Mr Nyatsumba said that SEIFSA, whose Economics and Commercial Division closely monitors trends within the sector on an ongoing basis, knows only too well the terrible state in which the sector finds itself and is equally – if not more – concerned about it.
“Unlike NEASA, we do not believe that a solution to the challenges faced by the sector can be imposed on any of our stakeholders, including labour. Instead, we believe in working closely with government and labour, as partners, in search of solutions, instead of standing on rooftops and shouting insults at everybody.
“That is why we engage with labour on an ongoing basis, and not only during wage negotiations, and are involved in ongoing efforts to lobby policy makers in the best interests of the sector. Shouting and pointing fingers is easy, but engaging in a search for win-win solutions is another thing altogether,” Mr Nyatsumba said.
He said that, in keeping with the initial mandate from the SEIFSA Council (an assembly of the Federation’s member Associations), SEIFSA had worked closely with other employer organisations – including NEASA – until last week. It will now engage directly with the unions in an effort to avoid industrial action, “which would have a devastating impact on an already fragile sector”.
“We have absolutely no intention of concluding a deal that would worsen the situation, nor do we have a mandate to do so. Instead, in these bilateral engagements we will seek to conclude a realistic settlement acceptable to our members.
“Clearly, it will not be possible to reach a settlement unless it is fair both to our members and to our labour partners. After all, it is in our mutual interest – and, indeed, South Africa’s – that no further job losses occur and that over time the sector becomes more competitive internationally,” Mr Nyatsumba said.
He said that it was unfortunate that, at a time when employers’ efforts should be on reaching an acceptable deal with labour to avoid industrial action, SEIFSA finds itself having to respond to NEASA’s vitriol and to set the record straight.
“For the record, we at SEIFSA have absolutely nothing against NEASA. We do not consider the organisation to be an enemy and have never singled it out for attacks, which is why we worked with it and other employer parties in a joint employer caucus both during this round of negotiations and in 2014. Unfortunately, our two organisations (SEIFSA and NEASA) no longer agree on the best way forward.
“We find it extremely unfortunate that NEASA has again targeted SEIFSA for these wholly unjustified, vitriolic attacks. We have no intention of responding in kind,” said Mr Nyatsumba.
End
Issued by:
Siseko Njobeni
Communications Manager
Tel: (011) 298 9411 and 082 602 1725
Email: siseko@seifsa.co.za
Web: www.seifsa.co.za
SEIFSA welcomes automotive sector’s commitment to increase sourcing of locally-produced goods
SEIFSA welcomes automotive sector’s commitment to increase sourcing of locally-produced goods
Johannesburg, 28 June 2017 – The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) welcomes the automotive industry’s commitment to increase its sourcing of locally-produced goods.
SEIFSA Senior Economist Tafadzwa Chibanguza said the announcement made by representatives of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa in Sandton this (Wednesday) afternoon that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) would increase their sourcing of locally-produced goods as part of their 2035 Transformation Plan boded well for the metals and engineering sector, which was a supplier to auto manufacturers. The announcement was made after a meeting with the ANC leadership, which was also part of that press conference.
Mr Chibanguza said that the announcement speaks directly to the metals and engineering sector, which SEIFSA represents. He said the automotive sector makes up 31% of the total demand profile of the metals and engineering sector.
“It is, in fact, the largest domestic demand source for metals and engineering products, followed by construction and then mining. Prospects to increase local sourcing of inputs translates favourably to the metals and engineering sector since it indicates a potential growing share of activity for local companies.
“This is a classic case of a dynamic and pragmatic approach to a difficult economic environment,” Mr Chibanguza said.
He said that current levels of economic activity are very weak and only economic growth would counter that situation, but that would not happen overnight. The announcement by the automotive sector was a welcome, dynamic response to that weak environment.
Mr Chibanguza expressed the hope that the current impasse in the mining sector occasioned by the new Mining Charter would be resolved speedily in order to improve demand levels from that sector to the metals and engineering sector.
Ends
Issued by:
Nuraan Alli
Sales Manager
Tel: (011) 298- 9436
Email: nuraan@seifsa.co.za
Web: www.seifsa.co.za
Rising unemployment shows an economy in trouble, says SEIFSA
Johannesburg, 27 June 2017 – The employment figures released by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) today indicate a deeply troubled economy which, in the absence of a solution, will see ordinary South Africans continuing to suffer badly, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) said.
SEIFSA Senior Economist Tafadzwa Chibanguza said that given the 2017 first-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures recently published, which revealed that South Africa had fallen into a recession, it almost seemed a forgone conclusion that the employment figures for the same period would confirm a negative picture.
“In fact, the employment figures mirror those of the GDP, with the tertiary services contributing the most to the employment declines,” Mr Chibanguza added.
The quarterly employment statistics released by StatsSA showed that a total of 48 000 jobs were lost between the fourth quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017, amounting to a 0.5% decrease. Between the first quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of this year, a total of 58 000 jobs – representing 0,6% of jobs – were shed.
The 48 000 jobs lost in Q1 2017 is a net number, which is the result of decreases in most sectors and increases in some. Chibanguza said if all the jobs lost in the tertiary sector were added up, then a total of 64 000 jobs were lost between the end of Q4 2016 and Q1 2017. If the 4000 jobs lost in the manufacturing sector were added, then a total of 68 000 jobs were lost in Q1 2017.
Mr Chibanguza said that, with employment being an outcome variable which increases or decreases on the back of higher or lower levels of economic activity, South Africa “a thorough introspection of its challenges in order for meaningful solutions to be found”.
He said that it was encouraging to note that the mining sector had added 8000 jobs and the construction sector 12 000 jobs in Q1:2017. He said that the increase in mining jobs was to be expected given the relatively better mining production statistics released for the first quarter of 2017, which was assisted by stronger commodity prices.
However, Mr Chibanguza cautioned that the new version of the Mining Charter released by the Minister of Mineral Resources last week had the potential to undo this upside.
He added that construction employment generally tended to be volatile, depending on the number of projects in progress, and sounded a caution that the current weak levels of business confidence and the accompanying slow gross fixed capital formation were likely to imperil this trend.
“Rome is burning and the man on the street is the biggest victim”, Mr Chibanguza warned.
Ends
Issued by:
Nuraan Alli
Sales Manager
Tel: (011) 298- 9436
Email: nuraan@seifsa.co.za
Web: www.seifsa.co.za
PPI data point to margin pressure in the metals and engineering sector, says SEIFSA
PPI data point to margin pressure in the metals and engineering sector, says SEIFSA
Johannesburg, 27 June 2017 – The Producer Price Inflation (PPI) data released by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) today indicate significant margin pressure for companies in the metals and engineering sector, with a negative deferential recorded between input cost and selling price inflation, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA) said.
SEIFSA Junior Economist Roberta Noise said the PPI Index released by StatsSA for May 2017 showed a 4.8% annual change in final manufactured goods. This is up by 0.5% when compared to April 2017. She said that the annual increase was driven by food products, beverages and tobacco products with a 1.9 percentage point contribution, followed by coke, petroleum, chemical, rubber and plastic products contributing 1.6 percentage points.
Ms Noise noted that the intermediate manufactured goods changed to 3.1% in May 2017 from 5% in April 2017 on an annual basis. Contributors to the annual change include chemicals, rubber and plastics (1.6 percentage points) as well as sawmilling and wood (1.3 percentage points). The most significant contributor to the monthly 0.3% change was coke, petroleum, chemical, plastics and rubber products, with a 0.4 percentage point contribution.
Ms Noise said that SEIFSA’s input composite cost index showed a 11.4% increase for May 2017. The growth in input cost inflation relative to the growth in selling price inflation reflected in the PPI Final Manufactured and Intermediate Manufactured continues to record a significant negative deferential gap between input costs and final selling price inflation.
“The fact that the difference between input cost and selling prices is not narrowing draws one to the logical conclusion that producers are carrying this cost differential in the market, putting their margins under severe pressure,” Ms Noise added.
The Intermediate manufactured goods for the Production Price Index, which represents prices of products in the metals and engineering sector more extensively, is growing slower than what the industry is experiencing relative to input costs.
“The picture remains gloomy for the industry, with downward price rigidity at the forefront,” Ms Noise concluded.
Letter to Stakeholders: Solidarity Judgement
RE: LABOUR COURT APPLICATION – SOLIDARITY// MEIBC AND OTHERS CASE NO. J2924/2016
1. We refer to the above matter and confirm that the Labour Court delivered a written judgment (which is also reported) in this matter earlier today.
2. You will recall that Solidarity lodged an application during the course of 2016 with the Labour Court for purposes of saving the MEIBC from being wound up under the Labour Relations Act, 66 of 1995 as amended (LRA), and it sought an order to the effect that the MEIBC be placed under administration and an Administrator be appointed with powers similar to those of a business rescue practitioner under the Companies Act.
3. In its analysis of the merits, the Labour Court recognized that although the LRA does not make specific provision for a bargaining council to be placed under administration, such a process is a necessary intervention and assistance to bringing back the bargaining council on track so that it can fulfill the purpose for which it was established.
4. In view of the above, the Court made an order in the following terms:
a. An Administrator is hereby appointed for the MEIBC in the person of senior CCMA Commissioner Mr. Afzul Soodebaar.
b. The term of appointment of the Administrator shall be for a period of six (6) months from date of the court order.
c. The term of appointment of the Administrator in terms of (b) above may be extended for a further period as agreed to by the MANCO in consultation with the Department of Labour; or in the absence of such agreement, by way of an order of the Labour Court made on application by any of the parties to the MEIBC, with proper notice of the application being given to all other parties to the MEIBC.
d. For the entire term of the appointment of the Administrator, including any
extension(s) thereof, the MEIBC and MANCO shall resort under the Chairmanship of the Administrator who, in collaboration with the MANCO, shall manage the MEIBC. In the event of any dispute arising between the Administrator and MANCO about a managerial or financial issue and function of or relating to the MEIBC, the decision of the Administrator shall prevail and shall bind the MEIBC.
e. The Administrator shall be remunerated out of the funds of the MEIBC on the tariff as prescribed by the Companies Act No 71 of 2008 applicable to business rescue practitioners.
f. The Administrator shall have the following powers:
i. The Administrator shall have full management control of the MEIBC in collaboration with MANCO, but in the event of a dispute, in substitution of MANCO.
ii. The Administrator may delegate any management function to a person who is part of the existing management of the MEIBC, or to such other person that the Administrator deems appropriate, after consultation with MANCO.
iii. Subject to the financial procedures of the MEIBC, as read with any changes required by the order, the Administrator shall control the funds of the MEIBC and take control of and operate or close existing bank accounts of the MEIBC.
iv. The Administrator shall develop a plan on the prospects of rehabilitating the MEIBC to solvency and functionality, which plan is to be furnished to MANCO and the Department of Labour within a period of four (4) months from the date of the court order.
v. The Administrator must ensure that MANCO considers, with a view of adopting within six (6) weeks of the date of the court order, a budget for 2017/18 period.
vi. If MANCO fails to adopt the budget under (v) above, the Administrator shall determine this budget, after considering any representations by the parties to the MEIBC.
vii. The Administrator shall be responsible for overseeing the recruitment of a new General Secretary of the MEIBC, in consultation with MANCO and a selection committee to be appointed from amongst the members of the MANCO, which shall include both employer and employee party representatives.
viii. Following consultation with MANCO, the Administrator is authorized, during his term of office, to apply to the Labour Court for an amendment, amplification or clarification of powers granted to the Administrator in terms of this order, in the event that it is necessary to do so for the purposes of the effective management of the MEIBC.
5. SEIFSA welcomes this decision by the Labour Court, which we consider as a victory towards saving the MEIBC for the proper administration of the Metals and Engineering Industries Sector.
We trust that you find the above in order.
Entries For Prestigious SEIFSA Awards For Excellence Close
ENTRIES FOR PRESTIGIOUS SEIFSA AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE CLOSE
JOHANNESBURG, 12 MARCH 2017 – The Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa’s (SEIFSA’s) search for top-performing companies in the Southern African metals and engineering sector in 2016 is fast drawing to an end.
Entries close at mid-night tomorrow, after having opened late last year.
“We encourage all companies in the metals and engineering industries that have not yet entered their company for one or more of these awards to do so before midnight on 13 April 2017,” said Kaizer Nyatsumba, SEIFSA CEO.
The Federation, which launched the SEIFSA Awards for Excellence in 2015, has persistently invited manufacturers operating in the metals and engineering sector within the Southern African region to submit their entries for the 2017 Awards. The entries are for companies that will be assessed on their performance in the period 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016.
Winners of the 2017 SEIFSA Awards for Excellence will be honoured at a prestigious ceremony that will take place at the IDC Conference Centre in Sandton on 25 May 2017.
Born out of the need to encourage growth and celebrate excellence in the metals and engineering sector, the SEIFSA Awards for Excellence offer a great opportunity for companies operating in this vital sector to receive well-deserved recognition by industry peers for their capabilities, expertise and innovation.
Mr Nyatsumba said although the metals and engineering sector was facing many challenges and uncertainty, there were companies that still managed to excel under these difficult circumstances.
“It is during crisis times that innovation and sustainability become paramount. We have seen companies that have managed to excel and retain operations in the sector, in the process not only saving jobs, but also ensuring that the industry still provides its goods and services,” he said.
Mr Nyatsumba said these companies need to be highlighted and celebrated so that it is demonstrated that there are other ways to keep the sector going until the crisis period lapses.
The SEIFSA Awards for Excellence have seven different categories:
- The Most Innovative Company of the Year, which will be awarded to a company which showed the highest level of innovation in research and development or production in 2016;
- The Health and Safety Award of the Year will be offered to a company with the best legal compliance record in Health and Safety or the lowest Lost-Time Injury Frequency Rate in 2016;
- Entries are also invited from companies whose Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme/s in 2016 had a major impact on the lives of their beneficiaries;
- Companies rated the highest in customer service performance in 2016 will receive the Customer Service Award of the Year;
- The Most Transformed Company of the Year Award will go to a company that showed the highest transformation level in the composition of its Board of Directors, Executive Management and Managerial Team in 2016 (this award category pits companies employing fewer than 100 people against those of similar size, and companies employing more than 100 companies against others of similar size);
This is the Decade of the Artisan, and an award will be made to the company that trained the highest number of artisans in 2016; and
- The Environment Stewardship Award will go to a company that has made the biggest or best strides towards conserving the environment or mitigating the impact of its operations on the environment in 2016.
Mr Nyatsumba has encouraged companies in the sector to submit their entries for the seven categories before midnight on 13 April. The Awards are open to both SEIFSA members and non-members.
Scaw Metals, ABB Group, Hazelton Pumps International and Voith Turbo were among the winners last year.
For more information or to enter for any of these categories for the awards, please contact our Sales and Communications Manager Ms Nuraan Alli on
011 298 9400 or 083 415 2780 or can email her on nuraan@seifsa.co.za. You may also visit our awards website at www.seifsaawards.co.za